Bucs, Indians coast to playoffs

Basketball on a Wood Court

By Bob Kopp
BDR Sports Correspondent
BELVIDERE – “Senior Night” for Deante Barnes, Matt Kopp, and Eric Munoz was warm in appreciation for their contributions to the continuing history of Belvidere sports.
When his motor is running, Barnes is arguably the most talented player in the NIC-10 with a high ceiling noted by recruiters with anticipation.
Though hoping to overcome a foot injury in time for baseball that has sidelined him since January, Kopp will play football and maybe baseball at the next level.
Dominating action on the gridiron since junior tackle football, watch for Munoz to turn heads on Saturday afternoons.
Belvidere and Hononegah completed conference play with nothing to gain as 25-2 (undefeated in the NIC-10) Boylan, ranked fifth in the state (3A), clinched the title long ago.
As the largest school in the conference, the Indians coasted to a 55-42 win over the smallest school in the conference.
Hononegah will be the favorite to challenge recruiting-rich Boylan for the crown next year as they have only two seniors on a deeply talented roster. They should also make a strong showing in the playoffs with a dominating win over Auburn and close loss to the Titans in recent weeks.
Playing against schools of the same size in the playoffs, Belvidere has a reasonable shot of making it through a weak regional bracket to sectionals. Senior leaders Barnes and Munoz are complemented by “all-everything” junior Austin Revolinski and several skilled and explosive though raw talents filling out the roster. Head coach Aaron Pearson and top assistant Nate Lister have a history of “coaching up” the Bucs when it counts the most.
Back to the last game of the season, Barnes led the Bucs with 16 points and Munoz hit on three from downtown for his nine.
Stay tuned for regional match-ups that tip-off on March 1.